Great expectations of a possible move to Trabzonspor of Turkey by Super Eagles’ defender, Chidozie Awaziem have fallen flat, following confirmation that his transfer fee was too high for the Turkish Super Lig club to afford; but former Liverpool of England midfielder, Ovie Ejaria is still in line to join the club that once had John Mikel Obi and Eddie Ogenyi Onazi.
Megasportsarena.com gathered that, while Ejaria could still become the next Nigerian midfielder to star for Trabzonspor, reverse is the case with Awaziem, as this year’s Turkish FA Cup winners have pulled out of the race to sign the versatile defender, who last played on loan from FC Porto of Portugal at Leganes of Spain.
Incidentally, Trabzonspor are also said to be in the hunt for Awaziem’s compatriot and Leganes colleague, Kenneth Omeruo, as they aim to strengthen their defence ahead of the new season, and their Nigerian-born head coach, Eddie Ikem Newton is eager to get more African talent into his squad that still has former Super Eagles’ invitee, Anthony Nwakaeme in attack.
Newton showed immense interest in a move for Awaziem, with high hopes of sealing an early deal for the right-back-cum-stopper, after the former FC Nantes of France and Caykor Rizespor of Turkey loanee was proposed to the Trabzon-based outfit by his agent; but the club’s board rejected the offer due to the player’s heavy wages.
Turkish sports daily, Fanatik reports that Trabzonspor bulked on huge demands made pointedly by Awaziem, who is said to have demanded one million euro a year to play for the glory-chasing club next season; despite having failed to establish himself as a regular since being promoted to Porto’s first team but was loaned to Nantes, Rizespor and Leganes over the last three seasons.
His rejection by Trabzonspor has left the 23-year-old Awaziem without any choice but to rejoin his parent club and await further developments; even as Newton keeps tabs on Omeruo as an alternative as well as Ejaria to be a replacement for outgoing Argentina international, Jose Sosa.
Ejaria, who cut his teeth as a youth player in the academy of Arsenal of England and has been on the cards of Liverpool since 2014, with eight games for the current European champions, despite being loaned out severally over the years.
The dashing midfielder, who was a member of England’s 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup-winning squad but has switched his international allegiance to Nigeria, was in thrilling form last season while on loan at Reading, scoring three goals and setting up five others in 36 appearances in the lower cadre English Championship games; which caught the eye at Trabzonspor.
The club’s hierarchy subsequently directed Newton to include Ejaria in a shortlist of options to replace Sosa but, while Fotospor disclosed that the Nigerian-born former Chelsea of England midfielder-turned Trabzonspor gaffer is eager to have the former Golden Eaglets’ invitee, it is unlikely Liverpool will agree to sell the former Glasgow Rangers of Scotland youngster.
The reports adds that, with Trabzonspor also currently under the periscope of UEFA and FIFA on account of alleged infringements of financial fair play rules, the most likely deal they might get for Ejaria could be a loan agreement for the new season.
